‘NHS is so special to me’ March 14, 2025

I started volunteering at NHS right when I turned 15 in June of 2001. I was SO excited to spend time there and help with all of the animals. I came every Sunday and stayed all day.

I met Mary Larson and JoAnn Bednarz back then, and would hang out with them in the breakroom or the gift shop. As soon as I was able to work there, I applied and was hired in October of 2003. I worked in customer service for a few years, then assessment/intake, then kennels (I was assistant shelter manager for dogs), then finally the behavior department.

NHS was and still is so, so special to me because I made life long friends there and discovered my passion for animal behavior, which I have made a career out of. I left NHS in August of 2011 to move out of state.

The supportive, progressive team that I worked with at NHS made such a huge impact on my life. I have such fond memories of Reese (the 1 in a million dog that we used for behavior evaluations), the staff Christmas party, helping out behind the scenes during events, like Walk for the Animals and Black Tie & Tails, and getting to see/take care of SO many different species of animals.

I currently have two NHS alumni in my household: Brik (a French bulldog mix) and Major (a 30 year old horse).

This is me in the assessment/intake room with a snake that was confiscated. It was super nice and I remember we were all passing it around. Taken around 2008-2009.

The 5 year old French bulldog mix that my husband and I adopted from NHS in 2020.

Another two NHS alumni of ours. This was taken in my office when I worked in the behavior department after behavior moved over to the strip mall next door (around 2009-2011).

I had Honey and Phatty when I met my husband Lee, so of course they had to be in the wedding. Honey was the flower girl and Phatty was the ring bearer.

Major, the 30-year-old horse my husband and I adopted from NHS in 2018.

-Emily

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